Considering the Bigger Picture

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

With Xiong Tatian and Li Tianji around, Qin Yu had spent the past month training without pause and without any worries. His strength had improved by a great deal. If he had not wanted to stabilize his realm and temper his body, he would have already entered the Eighth Level of the Martial Realm.

It had to be said that over the past month, Qin Yu had drunk more fierce beast blood than anything else. Though it was worlds apart from the blood in Xiong Tatian's gourd, it was enough to make Qin Yu's blood and vitality grow increasingly robust.

As time passed, the three had reached the depths of the Beast Burial Forest, and their pace gradually slowed. Third-rank Fierce Beasts gathered here. Though Xiong Tatian was extraordinarily strong, even he feared encountering a beast pack. At that point, he might be able to retreat unscathed, but Qin Yu and Li Tianji would likely suffer disaster.

"Li Tianji, just how vast is this place? Where is the Ancestor Ape Blood?" Xiong Tatian asked gruffly, his face full of impatience.

Li Tianji looked coldly at Xiong Tatian. "I know there is Ancestor Ape Blood here, but how would I know where it is? Whether we can obtain it depends on our luck!"

"So you were deceiving me?" Xiong Tatian was deeply displeased.

Li Tianji trembled with anger. Qin Yu hurriedly said, "Xiong Tatian, some things truly do depend on luck. I've also heard that there is the corpse of a Dao Realm fierce beast in this Land of Beast Burial. It should be the ancestor ape Li Tianji mentioned. If we search around here some more, we should be able to find it." As he spoke, Qin Yu froze for a moment before asking, "Li Tianji, what kind of ancestor ape is this ancestor ape you mentioned?"

"Are there many kinds of ancestor apes?" Xiong Tatian asked suspiciously. Li Tianji also turned to look at Qin Yu, wondering what ancient tome Qin Yu had obtained to know so much. He did not know that Qin Yu was a walking Library Pavilion.

"Of course. Whether humans or beasts, all have different races. For example, you belong to the Mad Bear Clan, but besides the Mad Bear Clan, there are also the Furious Bear Clan and the Battle Bear Clan. There are many divisions, distinguished according to bloodline. The ape race also has several kinds. More specifically, they can be divided into Primeval Apes, Ancestor Apes, Ancient Apes, and War Apes. True Ancestor Apes likely no longer exist. Even if they do, their bloodlines would be exceptionally thin. So, I suspect that the ancestor ape mentioned here is more accurately a War Ape."

"Brother Qin, by your reasoning, doesn't that mean War Ape blood is of little use?" Xiong Tatian had listened for quite a while. He had not caught anything else, but he had caught that much.

Qin Yu smiled bitterly. Only then did he understand why Li Tianji was so often angered by Xiong Tatian. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Even if the War Ape's bloodline is thin, it is still at the Dao Realm level. Its blood will naturally be useful to you. Dao Realm cultivators are exceptionally rare nowadays. Besides, it may not necessarily be a War Ape. It could be an Ancient Ape, or even a true Ancestor Ape." Qin Yu did not say this without reason. After all, even the great sect behind the Wu Kingdom attached importance to it. This fierce beast was likely not so simple.

Qin Yu was certain that the claim that this was a Dao Realm fierce beast had been spread by that sect. What kind of fierce beast it truly was remained uncertain.

"I see. Then let's advance at full speed!" Xiong Tatian said with delight.

"Wait, Xiong Tatian. What is your cultivation?" Qin Yu hurriedly stopped the restless Xiong Tatian and quickly asked. Xiong Tatian's aura made it impossible for Qin Yu to judge his cultivation, so he had no idea what realm Xiong Tatian was in.

"My cultivation?" Xiong Tatian was stunned as well. After a long while, he said, "I should be in the middle stage of the Gangqi Realm. But I can crush ordinary Heavenly Tempering Realm cultivators like flies. You don't know this, but ever since I was born, before I could remember anything, my father soaked me in medicinal cauldrons to temper my body... Back then, I was muddleheaded all day long, and it went on like that for a hundred years. By the time I became sensible, I was already over ten years old."

Qin Yu and Li Tianji looked at each other. Tempering his body alone had taken a hundred years? No wonder Xiong Tatian's fleshly body was absurdly powerful.

"My Mad Bear Clan does not care about cultivation. We only care about physical strength. Once I reach adulthood, my cultivation will naturally rise," Xiong Tatian declared proudly.

Qin Yu could not help but sigh. Comparing people truly could infuriate one to death.

However, Qin Yu also knew that no one could say how long it would take for Xiong Tatian to truly reach adulthood. In other words, during this period, his intelligence would remain immature, his temper violent, and his behavior rash. This way, Xiong Tatian would easily offend others, which was extremely unfavorable for him.

"By the way, how many clansmen do you have now?" Qin Yu asked. With Xiong Tatian's temperament, offending people would become as commonplace as eating and drinking in the future. Without the support of a powerful clan, he would probably die young.

"This... I'm not telling you." Xiong Tatian's face reddened, and he replied somewhat angrily.

Qin Yu smiled bitterly. Even at the peak of its glory, the Mad Bear Clan had numbered no more than a hundred. Now... Xiong Tatian probably had fewer than ten clansmen, perhaps even fewer.

"There may be third-rank fierce beasts in this Land of Beast Burial, so we cannot enter recklessly. After all, only you can fight a third-rank fierce beast. A cautious sailor can sail for ten thousand years; we must not be careless in anything," Qin Yu said quietly, glancing toward the depths.

His main purpose in coming here was to strengthen his blood and vitality and increase his strength. He was not in a hurry to raise his cultivation. He also knew Cui Shuo's strength. He was only afraid that something might happen during these five and a half months. If he had not considered Qin Xue and Qin Zhan's safety, Qin Yu would not have postponed the life-and-death battle until five and a half months later.

"How about I clear the way ahead, and you two follow me?" After thinking for a long time, Xiong Tatian spoke. He did not want to sit at the side with Li Tianji and watch Qin Yu battle Fierce Beasts.

"Fine!" Qin Yu glanced at Li Tianji and nodded.

Thus, Xiong Tatian cleared the way ahead while Qin Yu and Li Tianji followed behind. When they encountered first-rank Fierce Beasts, Qin Yu would kill them alone. When they encountered second-rank Fierce Beasts, Qin Yu would only have Li Tianji act if there was no other choice. Li Tianji and Xiong Tatian were complete opposites. Xiong Tatian was constantly itching for a fight, while Li Tianji avoided acting whenever possible. As time went on, Qin Yu's strength steadily improved.

In the blink of an eye, another two months had passed.

While Qin Yu was immersed in cultivation, at the Cui Residence in Tianwu Main City—

"Grandfather, will this thing work? There are only two months left, and Qin Yu's whereabouts are unknown. He has likely gone somewhere to train bitterly. In two months, his strength will surely rise another level." Cui Shuo examined the thin, gauzy soft armor in his hands with doubt and concern. Whenever he recalled his battle with Qin Yu, fear involuntarily rose within him.

Seeing Cui Shuo's timid, retreating appearance, Cui Hong could not help but feel disappointed. He had not expected Cui Shuo to fear Qin Yu to such an extent. Had he known this earlier, he would not have accepted the challenge even if it meant losing face. With a sigh in his heart, Cui Hong slowly said, "This soft armor has an extraordinary origin. It is a Third-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Artifact, the Sky Silkworm Soft Armor. So what if Qin Yu is strong? Could he possibly break through the Sky Silkworm Soft Armor's defenses?"

"A Third-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Artifact?" Cui Shuo's eyes lit up. In the Star Realm, spirit artifacts were divided into seven ranks, with each rank further divided into high, middle, and low grades. The higher the grade, the more precious the spirit artifact. The sword he had previously used, for instance, was only a first-rank high-grade spirit artifact.

However, defensive spirit artifacts were far more precious than offensive ones. At a critical moment, they could save one's life. Furthermore, even Heaven Quenching Realm cultivators would find it difficult to break through a Third-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Artifact. Qin Yu was merely at the Martial Realm Sixth Level. No matter how monstrous he was, he could not possibly break through the defenses of a Third-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Artifact.

Delightedly examining the Sky Silkworm Soft Armor, Cui Shuo said, "With this item, even if Qin Yu enters the Gangqi Realm within these five months, I will not fear him in the slightest."

"I heard that your Senior Brother Wang Ping obtained a wisp of Earth Fire. If you can borrow it, that Earth Fire alone can burn Qin Yu to death." Cui Hong stared at Cui Shuo with clouded eyes as he spoke slowly.

Cui Shuo's gaze dimmed. He shook his head and sighed. "Senior Brother Wang did obtain Earth Fire, but it is something that can save his life. He will not agree to lend it out."

"When your senior brother arrives, this old man will speak with him." Cui Hong's eyes flickered. Cui Shuo was the most outstanding junior of his branch. Cui Hong had placed great hopes on him, so naturally he would not allow Cui Shuo to suffer any mishap.

Cui Shuo's expression shook as he looked at Cui Hong in disbelief. "Grandfather, are you confident you can persuade Senior Brother Wang? If we can truly borrow that Earth Fire, then with this Sky Silkworm Soft Armor and the Earth Fire, I have absolute confidence in killing Qin Yu."

"Enough. Go back for now. Grandfather must prepare a few things," Cui Hong said calmly.

"Yes, Grandfather!" Cui Shuo happily toyed with the soft armor before turning and leaving.

The moment Cui Shuo turned around, Cui Hong's clouded eyes became profound. He stared at Cui Shuo's departing back, and a trace of fierceness swept through his eyes. After a long while, he muttered to himself, "He has talent but lacks scheming and depth. How can he be entrusted with great tasks? If not for considering the bigger picture... Hmph!"

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